DUNFERMLINE tightened their hold on a play-off slot with a 2-1 victory over Brechin at East End Park.

A last-gasp penalty by Ross Millen in the 89th minute won it for the Pars, after Brechin clawed their way back into the game.

And with just five games to go and a 12-point difference between the top four in League 1, a place in the play-offs come May looks almost assured for the Pars.

The scoreline flattered Brechin, as Dunfermline could and should have scored more, especially in the second half when they dominated play.

First chance of the game went to Lawrence Shankland, who chested and got the ball down in the D, but hemmed in by two defenders, had no real shot at goal.

Brechin's Greg Cameron then flew right across the goalmouth on nine minutes, but it was cleared by Jonathan Page.

On 15 minutes, Darren Petrie sliced through the Pars defence and rounded Ryan Scully, but Alex Whittle rushed in to clear it inches from the goal line.

Faissal El Bakhtaoui then weaved through on 17 minutes, setting up an on-target Josh Falkingham who sent it over the bar.

Ryan Thomson came off surprisingly early, replaced by Allan Smith on 20 minutes.

A Brechin corner on 22 minutes found Graham Hay, who outran the Pars defence to feed it to Petrie, but he skied it from the edge of the box.

With both teams fighting for possession, the match got quite physical, with Falkingham and Whittle both getting booked within seven minutes of each other.

Robert Thomson then sent the ball into the stands, followed by a 30-yard shot by Bobby Barr that went past the far left post.

After Lewis Martin became the third player yellow-carded, for a foul on Alan Trouten, Steven Jackson fired the free kick from just outside the D, but it just skimmed the crossbar.

Dunfermline came out after the break looking a much livelier side, and barely two minutes after the restart El Bakhtaoui, on another lightning run in, crossed for Shankland to flick it in at the near post.

This was followed by Allan Smith's zinger over the bar, and a deflected Andy Geggan header, but then Brechin levelled on 59 minutes.

A lapse in defence left the Pars goalmouth wide open, allowing Robert Thomson to pounce and score easily into an empty net.

The goal lifted Brechin, and they had another chance on 66 minutes, Thomson taking on four defenders inside the Pars box to shoot from eight yards, but Scully threw himself at the ball to cleared the danger.

Shankland then fed El Bakhtaoui, who was spot-on to score from the edge of the penalty area, but it was saved by Smith.

Smith was again tested on 85 minutes, throwing himself into the lower left corner to keep out Ross Forbes' thundering free kick from 30 yards.

The pressure was getting to Brechin and Dunfermline's persistence paid off on 88 minutes.

Allan Smith was brought down by Jackson in the box, and the ref pointed to the spot – and Ross Millen stepped up to put it to keeper Smith's left.